Recoil absorber for guns



May 13, 1947. w. M. MARSEILLES 2,420,492

RECOIL ABSORBER FOR GUNS Filed Jan. so, 1945 fi Tjllmeilles IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a recoil absorber for various types of guns,large or small.

It is a fact well known that injuries are frequently caused by therecoil of firearms and while this generally happens while large guns arein action, it more frequently occurs in the handling of small arms,resulting in bruising and other injuries of the shoulder, etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple but veryefilcient means whereby the recoil can practically be absorbed.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which can beincorporated in gun structures of various types.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through onetypeof cannon in which the improvements have been incorporated.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the absorber.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view showing the breech mechanism of thecannon.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates thebarrel of the firearm which is provided at its breech end with acounterbore 2 providing an interior shoulder 3.

The recoil absorber is adapted to be fitted snugly within thecounterbore, as by shrinkage of the barrel about the absorber or by anyother means. This recoil absorber includes, in the present instance, acylindrical block 4 provided with a central bore 5 matching the bore 6in the barrel. The inner end of this block fits snugly against theshoulder 3 and adjacent to said inner end are radial ports 6 which canbe staggered as shown and each of which opens into the inner end of alongitudinal channel I provided in the outer surface of the block andextended to the outer end thereof. These channels are constantly open attheir outer or rear ends and are located where they will not beobstructed by the breech mechanism one form of which has been indicatedgenerally at B in Fig. 1 and Figure 4. As shown clearly in Figure 4, thebreech mechanism B is formed with a plurality of openings 7 each ofwhich registers with one of the longitudinal channels I, thus permittingcommunication at all times between the open rear ends of the channels Iand the atmosphere.

In practice a shell S is placed in the bore 5. as indicated, a breechmechanism is closed, and

the charge fired in the usual way. The explosion of the charge and theexit of the projectile from the barrel occur almost simultaneously, theprojectile leaving the barrel before the force of the expanding gasescan be reduced by escape through ports 6' and channels I back throughthe unobstructed rear ends of the channels to the atmosphere, it beingapparent by referring to Fig. 1 that the gases generated by theexplosion cannot enter the ports until after the projectile has passedthem. As soon as the projectile emerges from the bore, there is atendency of air under atmospheric pressure to rush into the bore. Theair will also enter the bore by way of the channels 1 and ports 6,thereby quickly eliminating any tendency to recoil that might resultfrom the inrush of air at the front end of the gun.

Actual tests have demonstrated the fact that the provision of aninserted block such as herein described operating as explained, resultsin the elimination of most of the recoil developed by the discharge of acharge within the gun and, because of the radial arrangement of theports which open into the longitudinal channels, any tendency of thegenerated gases to escape following the movement of the projectile awayfrom its normal position, is retarded momentarily until the bore of thegun has been cleared whereupon air under atmospheric pressure is enabledto rush into the bore at both ends of the gun with the advantageousresult already stated.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a barrel of a gun having a bore counterbored at thebreech end of the gun, of means for reducing recoil when the gun isfired, said means including a block fitted snugly in the counterbore andformed with a bore alined with the bore in the barrel and proportionedto hold a projectile and an explosive charge, there being portsradiating from the front end portion of the bore in the block positionedto be bridged by a projectile when in normal position in the block, saidblock being formed with longitudinal channels in its outer surfaceextending from the respective radial bores to the breech end of the gunand opening through said breech end to the atmosphere, and means forclosing the breech end of the bore in the block.

WILLIAM M. MARSEILLES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,864,374 Romberg et al June 21,1932 1,757,675 Methlin May 6, 1930 1,469,918 De Maine Oct. 9, 1923FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 468,583 Great Britain July 8, 1937

